Hi all, been a busy week and a busy weekend coming up. I need to make a salad for tomorrow's dinner with the family. I settled on a recipe with soba noodles, veggies, peanut sauce. I think I'll do the shredding and chopping tonight then make the dressing and put it all together tomorrow when I get home from the office. We'll see. I got a haircut on the way home so I got home later than hoped.

Nanc, I love the cara cara oranges! Are your allergies doing any better?

Thought I should give a short update on how I am doing.
Thursday I had my surgery - and all went well. The fiscula seems to be working now just have to wait for 3 weeks before stitches can come out and then 3 - 4 months before it is mature enough to use making it so that I can have dialysis when needed. Am praying that though I have had this surgery to make sure I am ready for dialysis that I can go even an other year without that as that really changes up a persons life. But just now working on pushing through the discomfort from the surgery and not being able to use the arm like I did before - when it heals will get more use out of it though it won't look all that pretty.
Weight wise has not been good due to the anxiety of this operation so am getting ready to be back on track as I don't like how I am feeling with the food I have eaten. Need to get off of the flour.

Hi all, it was a good weekend! Time with family last night and my noodle veggie salad with peanut sauce was really good. And today I got to meet up with Carla! We had a nice lunch and then wandered around a park nearby with her husband and SIL. I'm always anxious meeting new people but I felt very at ease with them. Carla is just as sweet in person as you see her here.

I was definitely off plan the past few days. Some cocktails and wine, food not 100%, etc. I'll buckle down tomorrow back on plan!

Got my 5000 steps in today and may get out for another walk tonight but I need a nap then get a little work done yet too. We'll see.

Marilyn glad you checked in and that all went well.

JNettie, keep meaning to try buffalo cauliflower. What recipe did you use? I don't have an air fryer but have a convection toaster oven that supposedly will do the same thing.

Mihani - yay you will have a day just for you! You need the time to relax and recharge.

We have no big plans...last 2 weeks we had busy short trips. Went to Austin, then to Dallas and then Houston. Each city is very different. Happy to be home in San Antonio. We have had a lot of rain this month and it is green and pretty for now with not too high temps. My pollinator garden and native plant garden are amazing this year.

Biggest goals are to walk everyday, make more soup and some cards and a little decluttering. Preparing for surgery on Wednesday. I have lost a little weight to prepare. Last week I had a morning of extreme abdominal pain area at the xiphoid process (tip of the lower sternum). It lasted about 30 min. and I almost called an ambulance. Being the retired ER nurse....I had to take a shower first and after standing up for 20 min it lessened but was sore. I did notify my surgeon but did not go in. I think...I hope...my stomach and hernia was sliding down through the diaphragm and was caught for a bit. If that is the case it will make my surgery a breeze for the surgeon...rather than trying to manually pull it down from my chest and tack it down. Losing weight might have decreased the pressure of the abdomen pushing the hernia up. I have been "souping and shaking (protein shakes)" prior to having the surgery.

Does anyone has a really tasty green soup recipe?

Yikes, Donna! That sounds awful but I'm glad the pain subsided. Bet you can't wait for the surgery.

I am not sure if you mean blended soups or a greens soup but I love this Eat Your Greens soup from Oh She Glows:

1 1⁄2 teaspoons coconut oil or olive oil (I omit this)
1 sweet onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups sliced cremini or white button mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
1 cup chopped carrots
2 cups chopped broccoli florets
Fine-grain sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste (I use no-salt seasoning)
1 1⁄2 to 3 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
1⁄2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1⁄8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 cups vegetable broth
2 large nori seaweed sheets, cut into 1-inch (2.5-cm) strips (optional)
2 cups torn kale leaves
Fresh lemon juice, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes, until the onion is soft and translucent.
2. Add the mushrooms, carrots, and broccoli and stir to combine. Season generously with salt and pepper and sauté for 5 minutes more.
3. Stir in the ginger, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
4. Add the broth and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, 10 to 20 minutes.
5. Just before serving, stir in the nori (if using) and kale and cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, if desired.

I also went through a blended salad phase a few years ago and enjoyed those. I had a website with a whole bunch of recipes but can't find it now. Here's a website with a few recipes: https://www.thefullhelping.com/introducing-the-blended-salad/ Personally I liked them a little thick and slightly chunky not completely blended. Sorta like green gazpacho.

I ended up staying home yesterday because I was quite literally exhausted. Spent most of the day in bed reading and napping. Feel better today and heading to the office shortly. Hoping to get through this project today so I can work from home tomorrow but we'll see. Still need to do some housework and laundry this weekend.

Mihani - Thank you for the recipe...I loaned my OSG's cookbook to someone in Japan and forgot to ask for it back before we moved. I have all the ingredients except broccoli. We made a huge vegetable soup using Magic's cabbage soup and adding Broccoli, cabbage and kale. It was delicious. Pureed it after having a cup and froze it for the post op soft diet my stomach will need to be on. Do you think this soup will be good pureed? Have a good day off tomorrow.

JNetti - Do you have any cards you kept? I would love to see them. This was my favorite easter card I made this year.

Keeping track of food and weighing helps me stay focused. When I am not logging I am usually straying.
I think I am being good with salads but adding beans, nuts and seeds plus what ever dressing all adds up.

Had a great walk through the San Antonio Pearl Farmer's market. I made myself a big herbal tea drink before and carried it around with me....glad I did because it kept me from being tempted. Most of the booths were not fresh vegetables...cheese, sweet drinks, delicious Mexican food, desserts. We bought dog treats. Talked with an older gentleman (80's) who rescued a breeder beagle, Bette 4 years ago. He was a dog expert and has always had dogs. Bette the beagle he said would be his last dog. My first dog was a beagle and second dog was a basset. I think my next dog will be a beagle rescue. Bette was so sweet and calm. Her owner was retired Air Force and lived 20 years over seas in Germany, Korea, Japan and Crete. CB and Cleo were on very good behavior at the market.

We're back! We had a great time, but the trip back was long, exhausting, and expensive. We missed the last bus from Seattle going home and then had to rent a vehicle for a one way trip. My jaw dropped when I heard the price. But what is the alternative? Searching around at night with no vehicle for a pricy hotel room? We decided we wanted to sleep in our own beds and be done with traveling.

Of course one of the big highlights of the trip was meeting up with Mihani! We had a great little visit and then after lunch we walked in a park that Mihani suggested. It was really pretty with paths in and out of the shade, rock gardens and flowers all around.

For the second half of our trip, we stayed at my MIL's place in rural Kentucky. They have beautiful property with a log house. We did not have internet access there for the most part and I ended up not using any social media or surfing online for pretty much the entire trip. Difficult at times, but overall a great way to get out of a bit of a rut.

Ruby came back with a hot spot under her chin and allergies. Both dogs seem tuckered out and they are sleeping more than usual. I think we are all happy to be back in familiar territory.

We're getting back on track with our food today. Dinner tonight is a fajita bowl with roasted Portobello mushrooms and other veggies.